Toddler who was shot, reported dead is still alive

OCOEE, Fla.,None - A 2-year-old girl who was shot in the head when a gun discharged inside her Ocoee home remains in critical condition Wednesday, according to a hospital spokesperson.

On Tuesday Ocoee police reported that the girl had died, but Tuesday night hospital officials confirmed 2-year-old Kaylen Torres was still alive.

Ocoee police said keeping Torres alive is strictly to keep her organs functioning. Torres currently has no brain activity, but her parents said they have not decided to take her off life support yet.

Police said Torres' 21-year-old cousin Christian Galarza-Rodriguez told them he was trying to put a .22-caliber semiautomatic into a box in his dresser when the gun accidentally discharged. Police said Torres was playing with two other children in a room next to Galarza-Rodriguez's bedroom when the bullet went through the wall and struck Torres.

"He doesn't remember how exactly it happened, but the firearm discharged and it went through the wall into the next room," said Det. Jim Berish, of the Ocoee Police Department. "From what we figure, she was sitting on a pillow right on the other side of the wall."

Torres was then transferred to Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children in Orlando, where she remains in critical condition.

While at the hospital, Torres' mother spoke with police about the incident.

Galarza-Rodriguez was placed under arrest on charges unrelated to the shooting, police said.

Police said he was charged with providing a false name because during the investigation, Galarza-Rodriguez identified himself as Luis Farias, even though his identification showed he was in fact Galarza-Rodriguez.

"He gave two different identifications for him and we placed him under arrest," said Berish.

Investigators said Galarzo-Rodriguez originally told police he was form Puerto Rico, but then said he was form Mexico.

Police said the fake name Garlaza-Rodriguez gave to investigators is the same last name of the child's mother.

Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) was notified of the conflicting identity information, and investigators said they are not sure if he is in the U.S. legally.

Investigators said charges related to the shooting incident are pending final results of the investigation.

WFTV stopped by Torres' home, but no one answered the door. Neighbors said the family only moved in a couple of months ago.

“I couldn't imagine if that happened to my cousin. That would be devastating,” said Cameron Tysco, who lives across the street from Torres’ home.